Office of Jake Upstead, Department Head The office of Jake Upstead has changed dramatically since the flight of his predecessor - for a start, you can actually see the place now. The blinds on the enchanted windows are almost always thrown open to let in sort of natural light. The colour scheme in here is neutral; off-white walls, dark pine floorboards, and a grey rug in the centre of the room. Most of the furniture is dark brown or subtle gold, excepting the grey swivel chair behind the desk, and a very comfortable looking sofa along one wall in the same colour, which is perfect for more informal, casual chats. It also happens to be easily long enough for Jake's tall frame to stretch out on, should he feel the need, but that's purely coincidental. Two regular chairs sit in front of the desk, for conversations better suited there.
Shelves line the wall behind the desk, and hold a decent-sized collection of books. Many are on law and policies, though these look nearly new and are mostly kept for reference. The most well-thumbed books are on history, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Quidditch, though there are also plenty here that relate to youth mentoring, amongst which a couple of parenting books can be spotted by the more discerning eye. The upper shelves are dedicated to psychology, and mental health and wellbeing. Books on potentially dangerous or extremely sensitive subject matter are kept well out of sight.
Jake hates paperwork, and though he deals with it when he must, too much parchment in sight drives him round the twist. He tries to keep his desk clear, though always ends up leaving out notes and personal reminders for himself anyway, sometimes written in shorthand or a private 'code' that can leave even himself nonplussed. The in tray invariably has something awaiting his attention.
Years of service in Magical Law Enforcement have made Jake extra paranoid security conscious, and it's for this reason that he doesn't like to keep too many personal photos in his office, but he cannot bring himself to have nothing there at all. Across from his desk, the wall is covered in picture frames, though these frames remain empty unless Jake is alone in the office, or chooses to reveal the photos to a visitor.
On the coffee table in front of the sofa, a curious little levitating orb serves as a subtle and constant light source. Jake refers to this as his Mood Orb, as it helpfully changes colour according to the dominating feeling in the room, although this one has a special secret feature in that when it detects deception or untrustworthiness, it shines white and bright.
If you need a word with Jake, especially in his capacity of Department Head, it's probably a good idea to schedule a time beforehand, but you can always knock and hope for the best, especially if it can't wait. Barging in unannounced is generally not advisable.
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